This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses: 1. Risks to inflation from weak dollar, rising industrial prices and wages 2. ISM Services index remains positive, labor weak (job openings) 3. Strong response in energy prices, stocks - rhetoric on geopolitical developments 4. concentration of wealth and the pending wealth transfer 5. increased stock market breadth; tech stocks in correction; net profit margin and earnings per share growth remains strong across the S&P 500 equal weight index 6. international stock diversification benefit remains even if US earnings growth has far outpaced global earnings ex-US 7. yield curve as steep as its been in more than 2 years 8. lots of dry powder at private market funds ready to deploy 9. Bitcoin/crypto showing its volatile head 10. As a percent of the total economy, capital spending by the AI hyperscalers likely to exceed the US interstate highway system in the 1950-60's and the railroad build out before the civil war
This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses: 1. Economic growth estimates for the 4th quarter lower, but numbers still expected to be good. 2. Leading indicators, port container volume down; factory orders slightly higher; retail sales slight uptick 3. comments on housing supply, significant shifts in the rental market, prices likely to continue to show slower growth 4. productivity higher likely due to AI; still risks of inflation, though, due to prices paid by producers 5. dollar remains weak, metals sell-off Friday in part due to new Fed chair nominee; money market inflows still robust despite interest rate decreases 6. quarterly earnings surprises lower; description of what to expect when earnings and economic growth are both positive 7. credit issuance going to be high, followed by refinancing of 1/3rd of all Treasury paper outstanding this coming year.
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Growth stays resilient as labor cools and core inflation hovers near ~2.8%. Fed likely pauses after 2025 cuts while leadership broadens beyond megacap tech; watch tariffs, geopolitics, and an “AI bubble” reset.
This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses: 1. Decision dilemma with FOMC rate meeting coming up - sticky inflation offset by weaker labor market 2. discussion of inflation components and influences 3. discussion of wages and income 4. residential housing, rental market, home improvement spending 5. exports, gold market and gold versus treasury holdings at foreign central banks 6. institutional and individual sentiment remains strong for risk assets 7. important market rotation underway - favoring value, equal weight, small cap and lower quality 8. balance of earnings growth shifting away from the Mag 7
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This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses: 1. inflation trends heading into 2026 are favorable, pending risks from policy shocks or politicized Fed. Money supply growth also bears watching 2. Producer prices remain elevated; potential supply chain issues on the margin 3. recession probability falling, strong 4th quarter economic growth expected. First half 2026 visibility much better than the end of 2026 visibility 4. retail sales, NY/Philly Fed survey's positive; capital spending trending higher 5. labor market slowing; increased joblessness amongst younger worker and those with degrees 6. update on residential housing; oil production 7. Investor sentiment remains high, volatility low in both equity and fixed income; increased breadth in the equity markets - all sectors above moving averages 8. Lower 2 year rates steepening the yield curve; meanwhile, credit spreads remain very low - implying low risk of recession
This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses: 1. no significant predictive investment trends from geopolitical events, especially over the medium to long erm. 2. bank lending recovering, defaults higher but not yet a problem; new business applications on the rise 3. Housing - confidence and affordability still main drivers; average monthly payments and mortgage interest rates remain sticky 4. Job market remains sluggish; job sentiment weak 5. manufacturing remains weak; service economy remains in expansion 6. Big divergence still exists for hard versus soft data; soft data is weak, while much of the observable data is more positive. 7. Atlanta Fed predicting 5% annualized GDP growth for the 4th quarter of 2025 8. Equity market concentrations and valuation bear watching; fixed income poised for better performance
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This week, CEO Eric Boyce, CFA discusses: 1. breakdown of drivers behind the 3rd quarter economic growth data and what to possibly expect in 2026, including possible impact from lingering tariffs and the OBBBA 2. inflation and wage trends heading into the new year. 3. the impact of income levels on spending, consumer confidence and expectations, as well as impact of tariffs and OBBBA on consumers by income level. 4. home prices up, but rate of growth decelerating; median home price to income ratios increasing. 5. Manufacturing activity remains sluggish in the Dallas and Richmond Fed districts, but future order growth looks promising. 6. Net federal interest rate expense will become a significant conversation during the 2030's. 7. breakdown of 2025 equity market drivers, including by sector and by factor. What to expect at least for the first part of 2026. 8. discussion of concentration risk, valuation and volatility heading into the new year. 9. more normal treasury yield curve at beginning of year; discussion of potential for rate cuts. 10.breakdown of commodity performance in 2025 and implications for potential commodity supercycle based on potential weaker dollar expectations 11.state of alternative assets in portfolios, weak crypto markets at end of year, implications of declining Chinese fertility.